Final answer:
The Anabaptists believed that baptism should be performed as an adult act of faith rather than in infancy, a practice they referred to as adult or believer's baptism. Their views on baptism highlighted the importance of a personal commitment to Christian faith. They also advocated for separation of church and state and practiced pacifism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Anabaptists, who emerged during the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, held distinctive views on the sacrament of baptism. Contrary to the prevailing practice among Catholics and most Protestants, Anabaptists rejected infant baptism, insisting that baptism must be a conscious act of faith performed by adults. They believed that only adults could truly repent, renounce sin, and thereby make a valid declaration of faith. As such, Anabaptists practiced adult or believer's baptism, in which individuals, having come to faith, were baptized to signify their choice to follow Christian teachings.
In addition to their views on baptism, Anabaptists also promoted the separation of church and state and were known for their pacifism. Despite these beliefs, which were based on their interpretations of the Bible, Anabaptists faced significant persecution and were considered radical by many European rulers of the time. Significant Anabaptist movements included the Swiss Brethren, Hutterites, Mennonites, and the Amish, the latter of which parted ways with the Mennonites in the seventeenth century.